7 and 8. Aminal Learning

Define learning.

A process by which behavior is acquired or changed through experience with the environment

What are the types of learning?

Classical conditioning

Operant conditioning

Modeling

Social learning

Cognitive learning

Latent learning

Spatial learning

What is classical conditioning (CC)?

A learning process in which emotional associations are made between a natural stimulus and a neutral stimulus

What is another name for classical conditioning?

Pavlovian conditioning

What are the main functions of Pavlovian conditioning?

Adapting to the environment and avoidance of danger

Classical conditioning is always training involuntary responses.

True

What are examples of training involuntary reflex behaviors/responses in classical conditioning?

Salivation

Blinking

Startle

Blushing

Increased heart rate

What are some examples of training involuntary emotional responses in classical conditioning?

Fear/worry

Pleasure/excitement

What is a stimulus?

Anything that causes a response

What is a response?

Any reaction to a stimulus

What is a neutral response?

Caused no effect

What is conditioning?

Something that is learned or taught

What does it mean to be unconditioned?

Innate, natural; no learning needed

What is a neutral stimulus (NS)?

A stimulus that does not elicit any emotional response

What is an unconditioned stimulus (UCS)?

A stimulus that elicits an innate emotional response without previous training/learning

What is an unconditioned response (UCR)?

An individual’s automatic/reflexive/innate reaction to a stimulus

What is a conditioned stimulus (CS)?

A once neutral stimulus that now causes a specific response after a period of training where it has been paired repeatedly with an unconditioned stimulus

What are the emotional responses that classical conditioning can elicit?

Positive or negative

How can you use classical conditioning to your benefit during a veterinary visit?

Create a positive emotional response by pairing high value food (or treats) with unpleasant parts of the exam

What are common unpleasant parts of an exam?

Being placed on the exam table

Taking rectal temperature

During vaccinations

Nail trims

What is operant conditioning?

Modification of voluntary behaviors in response to a cue

Operant conditioning has two outcomes. What are they

Pleasurable or unpleasant

What does the consequence of a behavior in operant conditioning do?

Determine whether the animal will be likely to repeat (positive) or refrain (negative) from repeating the same behavior when they are presented with the same cue

What does it mean for something to be positive (+)?

Something was added or applied

What does it mean for something to be negative (-)?

Something was removed or discontinued

What is reinforcement?

Increase in the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated

What is punishment?

A decrease in the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated

What is positive reinforcement?

When something good is added that increases the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated

Addition of a rewarding stimulus for a desired behavioral response

What is negative reinforcement?

Something bad is taken away that increases the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated

Removal of an aversive stimulus following a desired behavioral response

What are the pitfalls of negative reinforcement?

An aversive stimulus is required that triggers fear or pain response

Can lead to fear of the person applying the method that leads to fear or avoidance of that person in future encounters

What is positive punishment?

Something bad is added that decreases the likelihood that the behavior is repeated

Applying or administering an aversive stimulus in response to undesirable behavior

What are the rules for positive punishment to be effective?

Immediacy

Consistently occur every time the behavior is repeated

Aversive enough to stop the behavior in very few trials

When should positive punishment not be used?

In fearful animals

What are the pitfalls of positive punishment?

Aversive stimulus is required that triggers the fear or pain response

Can lead to fear of person applying the method that the animal may therefore fear or avoid in future encounters

Can trigger fear aggression response

Punishment of aggression may lead to diminished indicators of intent/early warning signs

What is negative punishment?

Take away something good that decreases the likelihood that a behavior is repeated

Removal or withholding of a desired stimulus in response to an undesirable behavior

Which of the following is an example of positive reinforcement?

Giving a dog a treat immediately after sitting

Which of the following is an example of negative reinforcement?

Removal of leg pressure when a horse moves forward

Which of the following is an example of positive punishment?

Collar that applies a shock every time a dog barks

Which of the following is an example of negative punishment?

Turning your back to a dog to remove all attention when a dog jumps up on you during a greeting

What is a continuous reinforcement schedule?

Reward occurs immediately after each response, every time

What does a continuous reinforcement schedule lead to?

Rapid learning

What is variable reinforcement schedule?

Reinforcement occurs intermittently rather than after each response

Which reinforcement schedule is most effective at maintenance of behavior and why?

Variable, harder to change

You should always use the same reinforcement schedule.

False, transition from continuous to variable

What is extinction (of an operantly conditioned response)?

The gradual disappearance of a learned behavior when the reinforcement for that behavior is no longer a consequence of that behavior

What is an extinction burst?

When a behavior that is on the way to being extinct gets worse but you reward it before it stops

What is non-associative learning?

The process by which the animal’s response to a stimulus is either attenuated or augmented by repeated or continual presentation

What are the types of non-associative learning?

Habituation

Sensitization

What is another word used for habituation?

Attenuated

What is another word used for sensitization?

Augmented

What is habituation?

The long-term, stimulus-specific waning of an emotional response

When does habituation occur?

When an animal is repeatedly exposed to a stimulus but experiences no pain or injury

How can habituation be used in behavior modification?

Modify reactions to anxiety-provoking stimuli

What is sensitization?

Increase in a behavioral response that may result from repeated presentation of a fear eliciting stimulus

What is flooding?

Reduction in a fear or behavioral response by repeatedly presenting the frightening stimulus at full strength with the goal of habituation

What is another way to describe flooding?

Exposure to a fear evoking stimulus with no ability to escape where the stimulus is not withdrawn until the pet habituates

What else can flooding be referred to as?

Forced exposure

What are the drawbacks of flooding?

Can be difficult to implement correctly

Ethical implications

High rate of regression

What can flooding do in fearful animals?

Worsen the problem (especially if the animal escapes)

What is learned helplessness?

Disruption of motivation, affect, and learning following exposure to unpleasant situations over which the animal has no control over escaping or changing

When does learned helplessness occur?

An animal is subjected to inescapable aversive stimulus and later does not attempt to escape teh stimulus

What is desensitization?

Presenting aversive stimuli repeatedly at low intensities that are gradually increased

What must be true for desensitization to be successful?

Individual must start at a level that doesn’t produce fear and never go above their threshold for fear at any level

What is counter-conditioning (CC)?

Change of a negative emotional response to a positive one by associating the frightening stimulus with one that naturally elicits a positive emotional response

Which of the following is an example of counter conditioning?

Both of these are examples of counter-conditioning

What is luring?

The use of food to bait the animal into the desired position

What is capturing?

Wait for the behavior to be offered

What is shaping?

Formation of a new behavior by rewarding the animal for each step taken towards the goal

What is another term used for shaping?

Successive approximation

What is response substitution?

Animal is asked and reinforced for performing a behavior that is incompatible with the undesired behavior